Iran's President Mohammad Khatami on Tuesday inaugurated the Yamchi Dam in Ardabil, a town in the country's northwestern, some 60 kilometers from the Caspian Sea.

The construction of Yamchi Dam cost 330 billion rials. It was erected over the Balkholu river some 25 kilometers of western Ardabil, Tehran Times reported.

The dam, located 25 kilometers from Ardabil, can regulate 94.5 million cubic meters of water per annum. It will supply water to irrigate 15,000 hectares of cultivated farms in the area. Besides, it will supply 1.5 million cubic meters of water required for environmental requirements of the area surrounding Balkholu River.

The dam will also supply some 20 million cubic meters of potable water per annum.

The Balkholu River is one of the branches of Darrehrud River. It produces 102 million cubic meters of water per year and its annual average rate of rainfall is 500mm. (menareport.com)